"And it shall be like a planted tree," as it says in Proverbs 3:18, "She is a tree of life to those who hold onto her." Rabbi Yitzchak, son of Rabbi Chiya, asks, "Why is the Torah called a tree of life?" He answers, "Because it is beloved to all life." Rabbi Yudan asks, "Why is the Torah compared to a tree of life?"
He answers, "Just as the tree of life spreads its branches to all the inhabitants of the world (in the Garden of Eden), so too, the Torah is spread out for all of life, bringing them to the eternal life in the world to come." It is taught that the tree of life stands for five hundred years, and all the days of creation are divided under it. Rabbi Shmuel, son of Rabbi Yitzchak, planted himself from group to group in order to fulfill Psalms 119:99, "From all my teachers, I have gained understanding."
Just as the tree of life stands by the waters of Tiberias and its environs, and its fruits are produced in their season, so too, the students of a person who toils in Torah study, and who sets times for Torah, reading, Mishnah, and Talmud, will flourish. Its leaves will not wither, for everyone needs its conversation and study. Whatever he does will succeed, for everyone needs his counsel, like Rabbi Elazar ben Arach, who provided advice that was successful and fulfilled.
They said to him, "You are a prophet." He said to them, "I am not a prophet, nor am I a son of a prophet, but this is what I have received from my teachers: Any advice that is for the sake of Heaven will eventually be fulfilled." Rabbi Menashe said, "It is a full scriptural verse, as it says in Proverbs 19:21, 'And the counsel of the Lord shall stand.' Any advice that contains the word of God will eventually be fulfilled."